Cashew Chicken

    So I'm trying to get back in the swing of things. I ate this two nights ago, therefore this is lightyears faster than my current rate of...zero blog posts. Now I am not one for spicy food, so I chose to cut the amount of red pepper flakes drastically, and left that for the end so Patrick could pile on as much as he wanted, but I stuck with the savory delicious mixture. So fear not, those that have sensitive tongues such as my own- when you cook your own meals, you hold all the spicy power in your hand!

Cashew Chicken 

It tastes really good when you mix the veggies with the rice and chicken. It's like a crazy yummy fried rice but not

1 pound of chicken breast,  cubed
2 1/2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce ¼ cup oil
1/2-1 tsp red pepper flakes (depending on how spicy you want it, a little goes a long way)* If you want to make it spicy
3 green onions, sliced diagonally
2 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tsp of jarred minced garlic)1/2 cup cashews, unsalted toasted sesame seeds lightly or unsalted cashews.
sauce: 4 tbsp soy sauce 1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch 4 tsp sugar 2 tsp white vinegar

Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces, combine 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce with chicken in medium sized bowl. . Let sit while you prepare the other ingredients.

In a small bowl, whisk 4 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 1/2 tbsp corn starch, 4 tsp sugar, and 2 tsp vinegar. Set aside. Slice the green onions, and measure out the red pepper flakes and minced garlic. 

Drain chicken in strainer to get the marinade off as much a possible. Heat oil in a wok over high heat.  Add red pepper flakes to oil,stir a couple times. Add chicken all at once, let sit for a minute or two till golden,then turn chicken. Add garlic to chicken. Cook chicken till golden on all sides and cooked through. drain oil if there is still an excessive amount. Add cashews. Move wok off hot stove and immediately pour in sauce while constantly turning chicken over to cover everything in sauce. Sauce should thicken quite a bit, if you want it thicker put it back on medium heat for about 5-10 seconds, and stir, stir, stir. Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds and add sliced green onions. Serve over Rice. ENJOY!

-slightly adapted from Mammachelle

-Sweet Sarah

Pumpkin Protein Bars

    
   
       So, I totally have been not blogging for a couple months... I am horrible. Obviously, I've still been eating and luckily, I've still been taking pictures so that once I DO start blogging (as in right now), I at least will still be able to add on all the delicious things I've been eating.

My really good friend, who is a big workout fanatic, requested I start making healthier things since all I ever do is stuff all of my friends full of carbs, sugar, fats, rinse, repeat (get it? I think I'm so clever). Luckily for him, I knew of a really delicious and super nutritious protein bar recipe, thanks to another friend from work.


These bars take a little extra work, but they're super good and incredibly healthy, you'll be pleasantly surprised. These bars are from www.bodybuilding.com and there are several other delicious recipes and flavors they have; I LOVE the cinnamon ones but have not made them personally yet. On another yet relevant note, Jamie Eason is a crazy godlike creature that must be from another planet. That is all. Now here are the bars!

Pumpkin Protein Bars

Nutrition Facts:

Nutrition (without walnuts): 1 square = 47 calories, .7 g fat, 8 g carbs, 3.7 g protein

Nutrition (with walnuts): 1 square = 63 calories, 2.3 g fat, 8 g carbs, 4 g protein 

Ingredients:

½ C Xylitol Brown Sugar Blend (Ideal)*
1 - 4 oz. jar baby food applesauce
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 ½ tsp. ground ginger
½ tsp. ground clove
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla extract
4 large egg whites
1 - 15 oz. can of raw pumpkin
2 C oat flour
2 scoops vanilla whey protein
½ cup almond milk
½ C chopped walnuts (optional)

*You can use any sugar/sugar combination you want

     Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350.
2. Spray a 9 X 13 Pyrex dish with non-stick spray.
3. Combine first 11 ingredients and mix well.
4. Add the final 3 ingredients (4, if adding walnuts), and mix until incorporated. Spread batter into the Pyrex dish and bake for 30 min.
5. Makes 24 squares.

From Jamie Eason at Bodybuilding.com